Before a home owner or investor is able to purchase, refinance, or access the equity in their property, a loan provider will require a valuation to take place in order to determine the security value of a property.
A number of factors are taken into account when determining a property's value including, but not limited to: the location of a property, the structural integrity of the building, the ease of access to amenities and planning restrictions. However, there are a number of simple steps that a property owner can take to ensure that their property's value is maximised, including:
Make sure that the property is clean and tidy: It may seem obvious, but allowing a valuer to assess the integrity of a space without being distracted by clutter is important to ensuring that the valuer ascribes the property a fair and reasonably accurate value;
Repair any damage to the property before the valuation: There is no point providing a valuer with a list of things you plan to do, as the valuation analyses the current value of a property;
If possible, have a floor plan on-hand in order to give the valuer a clear perspective of the property's special dimensions;
Be polite, and don't try to "sell" your home: A valuer will likely have predefined tasks and consistent processes that they undertake in order to determine how much a property is worth. Through being welcoming, hospitable and well mannered you can work towards ensuring that they are in a positive and comfortable state of mind to assess your property's value, which is conducive to a better outcome on your behalf.
For more information on residential property prices in your area, please contact your local Century 21 Real Estate agents.